r^@@^@^@^@^^ 

Mr.  Hooper'^ 
SERMON 


.     ON 


Coloffians  iii.  4. 


^ 


CHRIST  the  Life  of  true  Believers, 
and  their  Appearance  with  him  in 
Glory. 


A 

SERMON 

On  Coloffians  III.  4. 

Preach'd    at    the   Weft  Church    in 
Bofton^  October  4th.  1741. 

Publiflied  at  the  earneft  Defire  of  the  Hearers. 


By  WILLIAM  HOOPER,A.M 

Paftor  of  the  (aid  Church. 


BOSTON,    Printed  by  D.   Fowle, 
for  y.  Edwards  in  Cornhill.  1741. 


»***•»•»*######*#«*##**##**•**«*#*###*** 

" 


CHRIST  the  LIFE 


OF 


True  Believers, 


And  their 


Appearance  with  him  in  Glory. 


COLOSSIANS    III.    4. 

When  Chrifl  who  is  our  Life 
Jhall  appear ;  then  jhall ye  alfo 
appear  with  him  in  Glory. 


MY   Brethren^  Our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST 
is  a  Pattern  and  Reprefentation  of  all  his 
faithful  Followers.     'Tis  impofiible  for 
us   to  be   his  Difciples  and  to  partake  of 
:^_^_  the  Happinefs  of  the  Gofpel,  unlcfs  we 

l>e  conforpied  to  our  LORD  and  MASTER,  and  are  as 
it  were  fo  ^ny  Copies  of  this  divine  Original.  Whild 
he  lived  in  tt*is  World  among  Mankind,  he  was 
ftri&ly  pious,  n«iy,  righteous  and  good  ; 
Thoughts,  Wifhe^sand  Defigns  tended  to 
from  whence  he  cam\  At  the  fame  Time, 
in  a  poor  and  low  Condition,  he  fuffered  Pain  and 
Affli&ion,  and  was  at  laft  put  to  a  cruel  and  igno- 
minious Death.  But  very  foon  he  arofe  again  from 

the 


all  his 
Heaven 
he  lived 


6     Appearance  of  Believers 

the  Dead,  afcended  to  Heaven,  and  was  exalted  to 
the  higheft  Degree  of  Glory  and  Happinefs  at  the 
right  Hand  of  the  Father. 

Suqh  is  thy  Life  in  this  World,  fmcere  Cbriftian, 
and  fuch  are  thy  Hopes  with  refpe&  to  a  future  State. 
Here  it  is  thy  great  Bufmefs  to  fhun  every  wicked  and 
evil  Inclination  and  Practice,  to  ftudy  a  divine  Temper 
andDifpofition  of  Mind,and  to  endeavour  a  perfe&Obe- 
dience  to  the  Commands  of  GOD,  according  to  the 
Pattern  and  Example  of  thy  blelFed  Saviour.  Thou  art 
always  engaged  in  fighting  with  Flefh  and  Blood,  thou 
art  furrounded  with  fpiritual  Enemies,  often  involved 
in  Calamities  and  Afflictions,  and  at  laft  thou  fhalt  fuffer 
Death,  and  thy  Body  {hall  be  laid  in  the  Grave.  But 
when  the  Son  of  Man  (hall  come  in  his  Glory  to  judge 
the  World,  thy  Body  fhall  be  raifed  from  Corruption, 
and  united  to  thySoul  again,  and  then  thou  (halt  beGlo- 
rious  as  thy  Saviour  is  Glorious.  This  is  the  great  and 
important  Truth  taught  us  by  the  Apoftle  in  the 
Words  of  our  Text,  When  CHRIST  who  is  cur  Lip 
Jball  appear  y  thenjhallye  alfo  appear  with  him  in  Glory, 

In  the  Management  of  (his  Subject,  we  fhall  obferve 
this  Method, 

I.  We  {hall  confider  this  Phrafe,  CHRIST    who  ;; 


II.  The  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST;   JVhtn  b& 
who  is  our  Lift  Jhall  appear. 

III.  The  Glory  in  which  he  fhall  appear :    /'    *-»'-' 
appear  in  Glory. 

IV.  The  Appearance  of  all  true  Chriftians  with  him 
in  Glory. 

Thefe  are  the  principal  Parts  of.  what  I  propofe  to 
deliver  upon  this  Subject.  May  GOD  make  our  Dif- 
courfe  promote  his  Glory,  and  your  fpiritual  and  eter- 
nal Happincf?,  To  begin  with  the 

I.  Thing 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     7 

I.  Thing  propofed,  namely,  To  confider  this  Phrafe, 
CHRIST  who  is  our  Life.  That  we  may  the  better 
underftand  the  Meaning  of  the  Apoftle,  it  will  be  ne- 
ceflary  to  reflect  on  the  preceeding  Verfes.  In  the 
fecond  Verfe  of  this  Chapter,  the  Apoftle  exhorts  us  to 
fet  our  Afftttions  on  Things  above,  not  on  Things  on  the 
Earth  ;  that  is,  to  be  chiefly  follicitous  for  the  excel- 
lent and  glorious  Things  that  are  in  Heaven,  and  the 
Means  which  GOD  hath  appointed  for  the  obtaining 
of  them,  and  not  to  mind  fuch  poor  Matters,  as  infig- 
nificant  Rites  and  Obfervanccs,  and  fenfual  and  world- 
ly Enjoyments.  But  becaufe  he  knew  that  it  is  difficult 
for  us  to  raife  our  Affc&ions  to  Heaven,  befide  the  Ar- 
gument he  made  ufe  of  in  the  firft  Verfe  to  this  Purpofe, 
taken  from  the  Refurre£tion  of  CHRIST,  and  his 
glorious  Dominion  in  thofe  Places  to  which  he  calls  us, 
he  fays  in  the  third  Verfe,  You  are  dead,  and  your  Life 
is  bid  with  CHRIST  in  GOD  :  You  are  dead  to  all 
linful  Thoughts,  Defires  and  Actions  ;  you  have  for- 
merly renounced  every  Thing  contrary  to  the  Laws  of 
Religion  and  Virtue,  and  you  are  refolved  to  mind  the 
fenfual  Enjoyments  of  this  World  no  more  than  if  you 
were  dead.  But  though  you  be  dead  to  Sin,  you  are 
alive  to  GOD  ;  you  have  devoted  your  Lives,  all  the 
Affe&ions  and  Powers  of  your  Souls,  all  the  Abilities 
of  your  Bodies,  and  all  your  outward  Advantages  to  the 
Caufe  of  JESUS  CHRIST  and  of  his  Gofpel.  'Tis  true, 
this  Life  is  in  a  great  Meafure  hid  from  the  World,  the 
true/I  and  beft  Religion  being  mojl  private,  fo  that 
thoughtlefs  Men  cannot  perceive  any  Thing  beautiful 
and  excellent  in  you :  On  the  contrary,  they  look  upon 
iras  tile  moft  contemptiblePeople  uponEarth,and  your 
ives  as  Folly  and  Extravagance.  But  your  Life  is  hid 
in  GOD  ;  by  this  the  Apoftle  means,  that  the  Life  of 
true  Believers  isff*r<?  and  Certain.  It  does  not  depend 
upon,  nor  is  depoflted  with  Men,  weak  and  changeable 
Creatures  ;  but  it  is  in  the  Keeping  of  GOD,  who  is 
infinite  in  Power,  and  with  whom  there  is  no  Vari- 
ablenefs  nor  Shadow  of  turning  ;  therefore  you  have 
no  Reafon  to  doubt  of  enjoying  and  having  it  carried 
to  Perfe&ion.  He  fays  likewife,  That  it  is  hid  with 

CHRIST  ; 


8     Appearance  of  Believers 

CHRIST  ;  that  is,  no  Wonder  it  docs  not  appear  what 
good  Men  are  now,  nor  what  they  fhall  be  hereafter^ 
for  even  JESUS  CHRIST  is  hid  from  the  World,  his 
glorious  Perfon  being  in  the  higheft  Heavens  quite  out 
of  our  Sight,  and  his  Kingdom  being  fupported  and 
governed  here  below  by  the  fecret  Influences  of  his 
Spirit.  But  our  Life's  being  hid  with  CHRIST  efpeci- 
ally  fignifies,  that  JESUS  CHRIST  is  the  Fountain  and 
Author  of  our  Life,  that  he  merited  it  by  what  he  did 
and  fuffered,  and  that  it  is  by  his  Holy  Spirit  that  it  is 
produced  in  us.  Hence  the  Evangelift  John  fays, Chap. 
I.  4.  In  him  was  Life,  and  that  Life  was  the  Light  of 
Men.  And  A&s  3.15.  He  is  called  the  Prince  of  Life. 
Since  then  our  Life  is  purchafed  by  JESUS  CHRIST, 
and  depofited  with  GOD,  we  may  be  aflured  that  when 
CHRIST  whs  is  our  Life  Jhall  appear  y  then  Jhall  we  alf? 
appear  with  him  in  Glory. 

And  now  from  the  preceeding  Verfes,as  well  as  from 
our  Text  it  felf,  it  is  plain,  that  by  JESUS  CHRIST  his 
being  our  Life,  we  are  to  underftand,  that  he  is  the 
Caufe  and  Author  of  our  fpiritual  and  heavenly  Life, 
that  it  depends  upon  him  intirely,  and  that  out  of  him 
we  have  not  the  leaft  Degree,  nor  the  leaft  Spark  of 
Life.  As  the  Son  of  GOD  at  firft  created  the  World 
and  all  Things  that  are  therein,  and  as  he  preferves  and 
governs  them  all,according  to  thefe Words  of  the  Apoftle, 
Col. 1. 1 6.  By  hijnall  Things  were  created ^that  are  inHea- 
vcn^and  that  are  cnEarth^vifible  and  invifible^  whether  they 
leThroncs  or  Dominions ,  or  Principalities ,  or  Powers  ;  All 
'Things  were  created  by  him:  And  Heb.-  I.  6.  He  up- 
holds all  Things  by  the  Word  of  his  Poiver  ;  Sc  it,>*^ 
thit  gives  Being  to  the  ele&  World,  that  fuftains,  nou- 
riOies  and  perfects  them  all.  But  more  particularly, 
JESUS  CHRIST  is  our  Life, 

Firft,  As  it  is  through  him  that  we  are  juftified. 

This,  no  doubt,  is  partly  the  Meaning  of  the  Apoflle 

in  thefe  Words    ;    and  this  great  Blefiing   is  in  other 

Phces  of  Scripture  called  Life,  as  in  Rom.  5.18.  By  the 

ewfnej}  cf  One,  the  free  Gift  wmf  upw  all  Men 

to 


with  CHRIST//? Glory.     9 

to  J  unification  of  Life.  As  we  are  dead  in  Law,  while 
we  are  under  the  Sentence  of  Condemnation  ;  fo  being 
juftified,  being  pardoned  and  accepted  of  GOD,  we  are 
reftored  to  Life.  By  Nature  we  are  under  the  Con- 
demnation of  the  Law,  and  liable  to  the  Wrath  of 
GOD  ;  but  by  Virtue  of  the  Obedience  of  JESUS 
CHRIST,  embraced  by  a  lively  Faith,  we  are  freed 
from  the  Curfe  of  the  Law,  and  made  righteous  in  the 
Sight  of  GOD.  This  I  take  to  be  the  Meaning  of 
that  PafTage,  Phil.  3.  9.  That  I  may  be  fand  in  CHRIST, 
not  having  mine  own  Righteoufnefs  which  is  of  ttie  Law^ 
but  that  winch  is  through  the  Faith  ^CHRIST,  the  Righ- 
ieoufnefs  which  is  of  GOD  by  Faith. 

Secondly,  JESUS  CHRIST  is  our  Life ,  as  it  is  through 
him  that  we  are  fan&ified.  This  efpecially  is  the  Mean- 
ing of  the  ApoPcle  when  he  fays,  JESUS  CHRIST  is  our 
Life-,  he  purifies  our  Hearts  and  Manners  from  all 
Wickednefs  and  Vice,  and  forms  us  into  the  divine 
Image,  in  Righteoufnefs  arid  true  Holinefs.  He  not 
only  purchafed  this  for  us,  but  he  works  it  in  us  ;  he 
reveals  to  us  in  the  Gofpel "  the  Nature  of  Religion  and 
Virtue  ;  he  hath  given  us  a  perfect  and  moving  Pattern 
cf  it  in  his  own  Perfon  ;  he  hath  recommended  it  with 
the  moft  powerful  Arguments  and  Motives  ;  he  im- 
prints it  upon  our  Minds  and  Hearts  by  his  Holy  Spirit  ; 
he  cherifhes  and  caufes  it  to  grow  up  to  Perfection.  To 
this  Purpofe  we  may  apply  the  Words  of  the  Apoflle, 
Gal.  2.  20.  I  live,  yet  not  /,  but  JESUS  CHRIST  Iheth 
in  me  :  and  the  Life  "which  /  now  live  in  the  F/f/h,  I  • 
live  ly  the  Faith  of  the  Son  of  GOD9  who  loved  me^  and 
gave  himfclf  for  me.  JESUS  CHRIST  begins,  carries  on, 
and  accomplishes  the  Work  of  San<£lincation  in  our 
Hearts  and  Lives,  by  Virtue  of  his  Communion  with 
Us,  as  he  is  the  Head  and  Root,  which  give  Sup  and , 
Nourishment  to  the  Members  and  Branches, 

Thirdly,  JESUS  CHRIST  is  our  Life,  as  he  bellows 
iternal  Happinefs  upon  us.  This  is  often  called  Lite, and 
eternal  Life.  JESUS  CHRIST  merited  this  mighty 
Bkifingfor  all  thofe  that  believe  in  him  ;  and  having 

13  receive^ 


i  o    Appearance  of  Believers 

received  it  as  the  Recompence  of  his  Obedience  he  will 
certainly  bellow  it  upon  them.  My  Sheep  hear  my  Voice ^ 
fays  our  Saviour,  John  10.  28.  and  1  know  them ,  and 
they  follow  me.  And  I  give  unto  them  eternal  Life^  and 
they  foall  never  perifo^  neitlwr  foall  any  pluck  them  out  of 
my  Hand.  JESUS  CHRIST  then  is  our  Life,  as  he  jufti- 
fies,  fan&ifies,  and  glorifies  us.  Thefeare-the  principal 
Benefits  he  hath  purchsfed,  and  which  thofe  that  believe 
in  h:m  are  faid  to  be  Partakers  of ;  and  they  are  fct 
-  forth  to  us  in  the  Name  cf  Lift,  becaufe  they  are  the 
molt  rxckllent  and  deftrable  Bleffings. 

Before  we  conclude  this  Head,  -Let  us  reflect  a  little 
upon  the  Excellency  of  this  Life  we  receive  from  JESUS 
CHRIST.     It  is  the  Perfection,  the  Happinefs  and  Glo- 
ry,of  human  Nature.     It  constitutes  us   Objects  of  the 
Love  of  the  greatefl  and  the  beft  of  Beings,  and  intitles 
us  to  his  peculiar  Care.     A  Life  of  Sin  makes  us  hated 
by  a  juft  and  holy  GOD,  and  liable  to  all  the  Curfes  of 
the  Law.     This  proceeds  from  foolifh,  ferffual,  bafe  and 
wicked  Defires  and  Inclinations  ;    the  other  from  a  di- 
vine Faith,  a   reafonable  Love,    and    a  juft  and  lively 
Gratitude.     The  one  confiils  in    Error  and  Ignorance, 
in   Profanity  and  Unrightecwfnefs,    in  Hatred  and  I 
lice  ;    the  other  in  the  Exercife  of  Reafon  and  Under- 
flanding,  of  Devotion  and  Goodnefs,  of  Gratitude  and 
Love.     The  one  is  attended  with  continual   Pain   and 
Uneailneis   in  this  World,    and  with  eternal  Mifery  in 
the  next  ;    the  other   with  Peace  and    Tranquillity  of 
*  Soul  here,    and  with  Joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  Glory 
hereafter.     In  a  Word,  by  the  one  we  degenerate  into 
Brutes,  and  become  fit  Company  for  curfed  Spirits  or. 
by  the  other  we  become  Partakers  of  the  divine  Naturc? 
and  fit  for  the  HeiTcd  Society  in  Heaven.     The  one   is 
Death  rather  than  Life  ;    accordingly,  wicked  Men  arr 
fa'id  to  be  dead  in  Trcfpaffe.*  in  Sjxs  ;  and  foe  that  livftb 
in.Pltafure  is  dead  while  foe  liveih  ;     the  other  only  is: 
worthy  the  Name  of  Life,  and  hence  the  Scripture  v< 
often   abfolutely  calls  it    Life    :     He   that  hath  the  t.n 
v  Lift  '9  and  he  that  hath  net  the  Son  hath  not   Life  ; 
ana  he  thai  belisvefh  in  the  5VT;  lath  .pa fifth  from  Death 

ti 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.    IT 

to  Life.     O  glorious  Life  !    One  Day  paflcd  according 
to  thy  Precepts,  is  worth  an  Eternity  in  Sin. 

Now,  My  Brethren^  fmce  JESUS  CHRIST  is  our  Life, 
fi nee  through  him  we  are  beloved  of  GOD,fancl  fied  ar.d 
made  meet  for  Heaven,  and  entitled  to  it  by  Virtue  of 
his  Purchafe,  the  Confequence  of  the  Apoftle  is  plain 
and  ftrcng,  That  when  he  jhall  appear ,  we  foall  appear 
with  him  in  Glory  ;  which  brings  me  to  the 

II.  General  Head,  which  was  to  fpeak  of  the  dp- 
pearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST.  When  he  who  is  cur  Life 
jball  appear.  In  the  Fulnefs  of  Time  he  appeared  in 
Fiem,  cloathed  with  human  Nature,  as  the  Apoftle 
fays,  GOD  manifested  in  the  Flrjb.  He  will  appear 
again  at  the  End  of  the  World  to  judge  all  Mankinc, 
and  to  render  to  every  one  according  to  his  Deeds.  He, 
is  now  above  the  higneir.  Heavens,  far  hid  from  mortal 
Eyes.  'Tis  by  Faith  only  that  we  know  of  hi.;  Ex- 
iftence.  But  one  Day,  he  will  defcend  from  his  Seat  at 
the  right^Hand  of  GOD,  and  appear  vifible  to  all  the- 
WorlfJ^  the  Son  of  GOD  and  the  Author  of  our 
Salvation. 

The  Proof  of  this  is  evident  from  numberlefs  PafTagcs 
of  Scripture  ;  Matth.  16/47.  ^*  ^on  of  Man  Jball 
cime  in  the  Glory  of  his  Father^  with  his  holy  Angels^ 
and  then  Jhall  he  reward  every  one  according  to  his  Work  : 
And  Ads  I.  u.  This  fame  JESUS,  faid  the  Men  in 
white,  to  the  Difciples,  as  they  were  gazing  up  to 
Heaven,  when  our  Saviour  afcended,  This  fume  Jtsus 
taken  from  you  to  Heavsn^  Jhall  c?me  in  like  Man- 

~        ye  have  Jcen  him  ro  to  Heaven  :  ' 

When  the  LORD   JESUS  Jhall  be  r 
with  hisjnighty  Anvtls,  in  faming  Fire., 
geance  on  all  them  than  know  riot  GOD,  and  obey  not  /,(».? 
Voice    of  his  Sen.  '    But   we  need    r.otipcnd    Time  I;-i 
quoting   Texts    to  prove  this   important  r.i  ri     ,,      fso 
Man  that  believe  the  Scriptures  can   dcn\  u. 

B?, 


1 2    Appearance  of  Believers 

Indeeft  Tome  ancient  Hereticks  from  a  miftaken  No- 
tion of  Things,  and  a  falfe  Explanation  of  certain 
PafTages  of  Scripture,  maintained  that  the  Refurre&on 
was  already  paft,  and  confequently  that  JESUS  CHRIST 
would  not  appear  again  at  the  End  of  the  World,  as  we 
fay  he  will.  But  their  Opinion  is  To  contrary  to  Scrip- 
ture, that  we  need  only  to  mention  it,  in  order  to  fhew 
its  Abiusdity. 

The  Objection  of  the  Infidels  againft  this  Doctrine  is 
more  dangerous  than  that  of  the  ancient  Hereticks. 
Thefe  allowed  of  a  future  State  of  Rewards  and  Pun- 
ifhments,  though  they  denied  the  Appearance  of  J<ESUS 
CHRIST  :  But  the  Infidels  deny  both.  Our  Souls,  fay 
they,  are  made  of  the  Tame  Matter  with  our  Bodies,  and 
with  them  they  die  and  perilh  for  ever  ;  therefore  there 
is  no  Day  of  Judgment,  no  Appearance  of  JESUS 
CHRIST.  AsFear  firft  made  the  Gods  of  theHeathens ; 
fo  it  was  Politicians  and  defigning  Wen  that  invented 
a  general  Judgment,  and  Rewards  and  Puniftiments  in 
another  World.  The  Notions  of  a  future  State,  and  of 
the  terrible  Appearance  of  a  crucified  Man,  are  vain 
Chimeras  and  Scare-Crows,  to  beget  and  cherifh  a  fupei- 
flitious  Refpecl:,  and  a  bafe  Servitude  among  the  People. 

But  befide  the  Arguments  that  ferve  to  prove  thp 
Truth  of  the  facred  Oracles,  and  confequently  the 
Truth  of  a  Day  of  Judgment,  there  are  fome  drawn 
immediately  from  the  Principles  of  natural  Light, 
which  are  fufficient  to  flop  the  Mouths  cf  Unbelievers, 
at  leaft  to  make  them  very  modeft  in  their  Oppofition 
to  our  I^&rine,  and  to  confider  well  before  they  ^£JOr 
ture  much  upon  their  own  Scheme.  If  our  Souls  pejjfe 
with  our  Bodies,  if  there  is  no  future  State  ',  why  ha( 
M^ikind  in  ail  Places  and  Ages  of  the  World  univer- 
faJly  believed  the  contrary,  and  that  they  (hall  be  happy 
or  miferable  in  another  World  according  to  their  De- 
ferfS  ?  Can  we  imagine  that  an  infinitely  wife  and  good 
GOD  would  thus  cheat  and  delude  the  Apprehenfions 
and  Under/landings  of  Mankind  ?  If  our  Souls  perifh 
with  our  Bogies,  if  there  is  no  future. State  ;  feov/  can 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     1 3 

you  vindicate  the  divine  Perfections,  his  Wifdom/Power 
and  Goodnefs  which  are  all  concerned  in  this  Point  ? 
Ought  you  not  to  think  that  the  Wifdom  of  GOD 
having  made  Man  a  reafonable  Soul,  and  capable  of  fpi- 
ritual  Refrefhments  and  the  Joys  of  another  World,  is 
concerned  to  carry  us  into  a  future  State,  where  all  our 
reafonable  Faulties  (hall  be  exercifed  and  our  fpiritual 
Tafte  fhall  be  fatisfied  ?  Ought  you  not  to  think  that 
Things  being  promifcuoufly  adminiflred  in  this  Life, 
there  muft  be  another,  wherein  all  Things  (hall  appear 
regular  and  orderly,  and  the  Juftice  of  GOD  {hall 
be  clearly  manifefted  ?  Ought  you  not  to  think  that  the 
divine  Goodnefs  will  continue  the  Life  of  Man  longer 
t'lan  that  of  the  Brutes  fo  far  beneath  him  in  Perfection  ? 
Muft  we  die  like  the  Beads  ?  If  our  Soals  die  with  our 
Bodies,  if  there  is  no  future  State  ;  whence  is  it  that 
.Mankind'  are  fo  defirous  to  purchafe  a  lafting  Fame  to 
themfelves  ?  Whence  this  inbred  Propenfity,  tin's  na- 
tural Tendency  to  Immortality  ?  Why  do  we  fhrink 
back  into  our  Lives  and  ftartle  at  Annihilation  ?  Why 
have  we  Peace  and  Quiet  in  our  Minds,  when  we  do  a 
good  Action,  and  a  fecret  Hope  that  we  fhall  one  Day 
be  rewarded  for  it  ?  Why  are  we  feized  with  Horror 
when  we  do  a  bad  Action,  and  apprehenfjve  that  we 
fhall  ons  Day  be  punifhed  for  it  ?  'Tis  'GOD  that 
caufes  thefe  Thoughts,  and  Defires,  and  Hopes  and 
Feirs  incur  Breafts.  'Tis  thefupream  Difpofer  of  all 
Things  that  points  out  another  World,  and  perfwades 
Mankind  of  an  eternal  Duration  beyond  the  Grave. 

What  is  it  that  allures  thee,  thou  Infidel,  that  there  "is 
noJDay  of  Judgment,  no  future  State  ?  'Tis  not 
Kt-afon  ;  for  Reafon  tells  us,  that  there  is  in  Man  a 
Principle  fuperior  to  Matter,  and  which  in  all  Probabi- 
lity will  never  die  ;  that  the  Nature  of  GOD,  the 
Nature  of  Man,  the  Nature  of  Virtue  and  Vice  declare 
loud  for  another  World  wherein  every  one  fhall  be 
happy  or  miferable  according  as  he  hath  behaved  in  this 
Life.  Perhaps  thou  believed  that  there  is  no  Day  of 
Judgment,  no  future  State,  becaufe  thou  doubteil  of  it. 
Tiiis  is  the  Cafe  of  the  Generality  pf  Jnftdefc.  They 

change 


14  Appearance  of  Believers 

change  their  Doubts  and  their  Uncertainties  into  Arti- 
cles of  Faith.  But  a  Faith  founded  upon  Doubts  and 
Uncertainties  ;  is  it  a  reafonable  Faith  ?  Thy  Faith 
ought  to  be  proportioned  to  the  Principle  from  which 
it  flows.  And  as  this  Principle  is  Doubt  and  Uncer- 
tainty, thou  canft  not  build  any  Thing  firm  and  flablc 
upon  it.  Leave  thyDoubts  and  thineUncertainties  ;  ceafe 
to  flatter  thy  felf  with  the  falfe  Idea  of  Liberty.  Thou 
believeft  ailuredly  that  there  is  no  Day  of  Judgment, 
becaufe  thou  doubteft  of  it :  Is  this  reafonable  ?  Where 
is  theMan  of  the  leaftDegree  of  Confideration,  that  will 
hazard  a  greatGood  upon  aPrinciple  like  this  ?  If  there  is 
noDay  of  Judgment,  no  future  State,  the  goodMan  loofes 
the  Pieafure  of  being  wicked, and  of  following  his  crimi- 
nal,bafe,  &  brutifa  Paffions,  which  afford  but  a  poorPlea- 
fure  at  befr.  But  if  there  is  a  Day  of  Judgment,  pro- 
fyne  and  vicious  Man,  what  doll  thou  loofe  !  We  dare 
not  defcribe  thy  Mifery  :  We  are  not  able  to  defcribe 
it;  for  the  Torments  of  the  Damned,  as  well  as  the 
Joys  of  the  Blefled  are  now  inexpreffible.  Thou  loofeft 
an  eternal  Happinefs,  thou  expofeft  thy  felf  to  the  moft 
cruel  Torments,  to  intolerable  Remorfe,  that  will  never 
end,  that  will  never  have  the  leaft  Intermiffion. 

How  fweer,  how  trarifporting  the  Hope  of  a  bkflcd 
Immortality,  of  a  Perfection  and  liappinefs  without 
Bounds  and  without  End,  in  the  Society  of  Saints  and 
Angels,  and  in  the  immediate  Prefence  of  GOD  !  In- 
deed this  Hope  obliges  us  to  be  ftriclly  pious  and  g 
to  be  holy  in  all  Manner  of  Converfation,  and  to  deny 
our  felves  the  Enjoyment  of  vain,  fenfual  and  worldly 
Delights.  But  are  the  Pleafures  of  Sin,  that  are  of- 
ten attended  with  Pain  and  Difgrace,  even  here  ufV^ 
World,  are  they  to  be  preferred  to  the  infinite  and  eter- 
nal Happinefs  we  hope  for  ?  Muft  we  forego  an  ever- 
]afting  and  ravifhing  Joy,  for  a  fhort  and  unfatisfying 
Felicity  ?  Enter  into  thy  felf,  profane  Man,  hearken 
to  thy  Reafon,  confider  the  Suggeflions  of  Futurity  that 
arife  in  thy  Soul,  even  in  Spite  of  all  thy  Endeavours 
to  the  contrary,  and  which  prompt  thee  to  efcape  eter- 
nal Mifery  and  to  fave  thy  Tcif.  Having  confidcred  the' 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     1 5 

Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  let  us  proceed  to  con- 
fider  the  Manner  of  it,  he  Jhall  appear  in  Glory,  which 
was  the 

IIT.  General  Head  we  propofed.  It  is  impoflible  for 
us  to  exprefs  or  conceive  the  Glory  of  our  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST  at  hisAppearance  :  we  have  neither  Words  nor 
Comparifons  to  make  it  known  by.  He  fays  himfelf, 
Matth.  1 6.  17.  He  Jhall  come  in  the  Glory  of  his  Father ; 
that  is,  in  all  the  Majefty,  Power  and  Authority  of 
GOD,  in  Comparifon  with  which,  the  greateft  Pomp 
and  Magnificence  of  the  World,  is  but  as  Nothing  and 
Vanity.  We  mall  mention  a  few  general  Things. 

Firft,  JESUS  CHRIST  at  his  fecond  coming,  will  ap- 
pear glorious  in  his  Perfon.  When  he  was  here  upon 
Earth,  he  had  no  Beauty  nor  Comelinefs  that  Men  Jhould 
defire  him  ;  his  Vifage  was  more  marred  than  any  Many 
and  his  Form  than  the  Sons  of  Men.  But  he  will  appear 
at  that  Day  in  another  Form,  in  a  Body  beautiful  and 
glorious.  What  fort  of  a  Body,  the  glorified  Body  of 
our  Saviour  will  be,  may  in  fome  Meafure  be  gathered 
from  the  Hiftory  of  his  Transfiguration,  where  his  Face 
is  defcribed  to  have  Jhined  like  the  Sun9  and  his  Raiment 
to  have  become  fl/ining^  exceeding  white  as  Snow^  Matth. 
17  ;  and  from  the  Defcription  of  his  Appearance  to 
John  the  Divine,  Rev.  I.  14.  His  Head  and  his  Hairs 
were  white  like  Wool^  as  white  as  Snsw,  and  his  Eyes 
were  as  a  Flame  of  Fire  >  and  his  Feet  like  unto  fine  Brafs, 
cis  if  they  burned  in  a  Furnace.  Mofis's  converting  a 
few  Days  with  GOD  upon  the  Mount,  made  his  Face 
ae,  fo  that  the  Children  of  Ifrael  were  not  able  to 
look  upon  it,  for  the  Brightnefs  and  Glory  of  it.  How 
glorious  then  muft  the  Body  of  JESUS  CHRIST  be,  when 
he  ihall  defcend  from  converfing  with  the  Father,  and 
from  fitting  at  his  right  Hand  in  the  higheft  Heavens  ? 
It  will  outmine  the  Sun  in  its  greateft  Radiancy  ;  all 
the  heavenly  Bodies  fhall  receive  new  Light  frorn  the 
Glory  of  his  Prefence.  The  Sun  fhall  appear  dark,  and 
the  Moon  as  Blood,  when  Compared  to  his  Light  and 
Glory, 

Secondly, 


1 6    Appearance  of  Believers 

*  Secondly,  The  Glory  of  JESUS  CHRIST  will  confift 

in  the  Number  of  his  Attendants  and  Adorers.  He 
will  defcend  from  Heaven  fitting  upon  aCloud  of  Glory 
with  a  vaft  and  numberlefs  Army  of  Angels,  whom  he 
will  fummon  from  all  the  Provinces  of  the  Univerfe,  to 
wait  upon  his  Perfon.  And  whilft  all  that  are  alive 
upon  the  Earth  are  gazing  at  the  Son  of  GOD  and  his 
heavenly  Haft,  as  they  defcend,  one  of  the  Angels  will 
found  a  dreadful  Trumpet,  which  will  roll  the  wide 
Circuit  of  the  Creation,  make  the  Earth  to  tremble  and 
fhake,  and  piercing  into  the  deepeft  Tombs,  will  awake 
all  the  Dead,  and  call  them  to  the  Prefence  of  the  great 
Judge.  Around  our  Saviour  likewife  will  be  the  Saints 
of  all  Kindreds,  and  of  all  Nations  come  out  of  Tri- 
bulation, the  Martyrs  with  Palms  in  their  Hands,  the 
Virgins  with  white  Robes,  the  Church  in  pure  Linnen 
with  all  her  Children,  calling  down  their  Crowns  be- 
fore the  Throne  of  the  Lamb,  and  fmging  this  Song, 
7o  him  that  fits  upon  the  Throne,  to  the  Lamb  thai  was 
fain,  and  redeemed  us  by  bis  Blood,  be  the  Honour  and 
Glory ,,  the  Dominion  and  Power.  Wicked  Men  and 
Devils  fhall.  then  likewife  bow  the  Knee  to  the  Son  of 
GOD.  Here  they  oppofed  his  Intercft,  they  contem- 
ned him,  they  afronted  him  ;  but  then  they  {hall  fee 
their  Folly  and  fall  down  and  adore  him. 


Thirdly,  The  Glory  of  JESUS  CHRIST  at  his  fecond 
Appearance  will  confift  in  his  great  and  extenfive  Power. 
He  will  call  all  the  World  to  appear  before  him,  and  to 
receiveSentence  from  his  Mouth.  None  (hall  be  able  to 
refifthisPower.  The  Judges  of^theEarthjthegreatPnnces^ 
the  mighty  Ernperors,(hall  not  be  exempted  any  more  than 
the  poorelt,the  meaneft,  &  weakeft  of  Mankind.  Tribes,. 
Provinces,  Armies,  Nations,  Worlds,  (hall  be  gathered 
together,  and  pour  along  towards  the  Judgment  Seat  of 
CHRIST,  and  Adam  with  all  his  Sons  fhall  appear  upon 
even  Ground  and  upon  equalTerms.  He  .will  lay  open 
the  Secrets  of  all  Mens  Hearts  ;  his  Condemnation  of 
the  Wicked  will  be  fo  evident  and  juft,  that  they  them- 
fdves  fhajl  acknowledge  it,  Yes,  unhappy  Wretches, 

vou 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.    17 

you  fhall  have  the  Confufion  to  condemn  your  felves, 
your  Punifliment  (hall  be  everlafting,  your  Torments 
unfupportable.  Death  the  King  of  Terrors,  and  the 
moft  cruel  of  Enemies,  fhall  be  fwallowed  up  in  Victory 
at  the  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST.  The  Devils  fhall 
be  fpoiled  of  all  their  Power,  and  loaded  with  Chains  of 
Darknefs,  the  Foundations  of  the  Earth  /hail  be  Jhaken^ 
the  Heavens  Jhall  pafs  away  with  a  great  Noife^  and  the 
Elements  Jhall  melt  with  fervent  Heat,  Jor  we  look  for  a 
new  Heaven  and  a  new  Earth. 

And  as  the  Power  of  JESUS  Cr-tRisT  will  be  mani- 
fefted  in  punifhing  wicked  Men  and  Devils,  fo  in  faving 
the  Wife  and  Good.  You  that  renounce  the  Follies 
and  Corruptions  of  the  World,  that  make  the  Laws  of 
JESUS  CHRIST  the  Rule  of  your  Conducl,  that  take 
Care  to  fecurc  an  Interefl  in  his  Favour  by  loving  aud 
obeying  him,  you  have  nothing  to  be  afraid  of  from  the 
glorious  Power  of  the  Son  of  Man.  Towards  you,  he 
will  exercife  Goodnefs  and  Mercy,  in  delivering  you 
from  all  the  Remainders  of  Sin,  and  crowning  you  with 
Perfection  and  Happinefs. 

What  Glory  to  the  Son  of  GOD  to   defcend  from 
Heaven  in  the  Glory  of  his  Father,  and    with    all  the 
Angels  his  Father's  Minifters  !      What  a  Glory  to  the 
great  Shepherd  and  Bimop  of  Souls,   to  fee  his  Followers 
who  were  fcattered  like  Sheep,  gathered  together  in  the 
Regions  of  Immortality,    and    triumphing  over   their 
Enemies   !    What    Glory  to  the  Author  and  Teacher 
of  Truth,  to  fee  Ignorance   and  Error  dcftroyed,  and 
-vxwledge  and  Truth  eftablifhed    !    What  a  Glory  to 
/   the  Lover  of  Mankind,  to  fee  Sin  and  Mifery  banifhed 
/     from    among    them,    and    Pvighteoufnefs  and  Hnppinefs 
prevailing  and  flourishing  f)r  ever  !   ThenflwllyQu  beheld 
the  l*/ord  that  was  made  Flefhy  and  dwelt  among  us,  //,// 
of  Grace  and  Truth  ;   then  Jhall  you  behold  his  Glory ,  the 
Glory    as  of  the  only  begotten    of  the    Father.      He  was 
brought  forth  in  a  Stable  and  laid  in  a  Manger  inflead 
of  a  Cradle  ;   He  fhall  appear  in  all  the  Majefty  of  Hea- 
ven :    He  lived  in  a  mean  and  obfcure  Condition  ;    he 
ihail  sons  again   in   the  higheit  Degree   of  Power  and 
C  Grandeur  : 


1 8    Appearance  of  Believers 

Grandeur :  He  had  not  where  to  lay  hisHead  ;  He  fhaSl 
appear  PofTeflbr  of  theUniverfe,  and  the  fovereign  LORD 
of  Heaven  and  of  Earth  :  he  was  defpifed  and  rejected 
of  Men  5  He  fhall  be  attended  on  by  Angels,and  all  the 
World  (hall  bow  the  Knee  to  him  :  He  was  arraigned 
and  condemned  and  crucified  by  earthly  Powers  ;  He 
(hall  fummon  all  both  fmall  and  great,  the  Kings  and 
great  Men,  and  Judges  of  the  Earth,  to  appear  at  his 
JBar,  and  to  receive  Sentence  from  his  Mouth.  The 
two  different  States  of  this  Perfon  are  the  Wonder  of 
Mankind,  and  not  of  Mankind  only,  but  likewife  of 
the  Angels  above,  that  deftre  to  look  into  them.  Let 
us  in  the 

IV.  Place,   Confider  the    Appearance    of  all   true 
Chriftians  with  their  Saviour  in  Glory:  You  flwll  appear 
•with   him  in  Glory,       Here   in   this   World    the    true 
Chriftian  is  often  jiid  from  the  Obfcrvation of  Mankind, 
his  Graces   are   weak   and  imperfect  5     fometimes  he 
conceals  himfelf  under  a  Vail  of  Humility  ;  at   other 
Times  h^  is  covered  with  aCloud  of  Affliction  ;  fo  that 
it  does  not  appear  either  what  he  is,  or  what  he  fhall  be  ; 
iand. Death  feizes  him  as  well  as  the  wicked  Man,    and 
Jays  him  low  in  the  Duft.     But  when  JESUS  CHRIST 
lhall  appear  in  Glory,    the  Body  of  the   true  Believer 
fhall  be  raifed  again  out  ojf  the  Grave  and  united   to  his 
Soul,  he  fhall  be .made  perfect   in  Holinefs,  openly  ac- 
knowledged  and  acquitted  before  ail  the   World,  and 
rewarded  with  eternal  Felicity  and  Glory  in  Heaven. 

Firft,  At  the  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST  our 
Bodies  fhall  be  raifed  out  of  the  Grave  glorious  Boditj 
What  Horror  will  fill  the  Souls  of  wicked  Men,  wherf 
they  fhall  fee  them  felves  obliged  tore-enter  their  Bodies, 
not  to  enjoy  fmful  Pleafures  as  formerly,  but  in  order  to 
apn'ear  before  the  Tribunal  of  GOD  and  to  be  judged 
and  condemned  by  him  !  What  muft  be  their  Shame  at 
the  Sight  of  thofe  Bodies,  thofe  wretched  Bodies,  which 
wtre  the  Inftruments  of  their  Rebellion  and  Ingratitude, 
and  which  are  about  to  be  the  Inftruments  of  their  eter- 
nal Mifery  !  Qn  the  other  Hand,  what  wiU  be  joy  of 

upright 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     19 

upright  and  virtuous  Souls,  to  re-unite  to  themfelves 
Bodies,  that  peihaps  carried  the  Marks  of  the  LORD 
JESUS,  and  that  will  not  only  be  cloathed  with  Glory 
to  all  Eternity,  but  even  be  aiMing  to  the  Souls  in  their 
Operations  ! 

The  Apoftle  Paul  fpeaking  of  the  Refur re&ion  of 
the  Body,  fays,  i  Cor.  15.  42,  43,  44  ;  It  is  fown  in 
Corruption^  it  is  raifed  in  Interruption  ;  //  is  fown  in 
Difoonour^  it  is  raifed  in  Glory  ;  //  is  fown  in  IVeaknefs^ 
it  is  raifed  in  Power  ;  It  is  fown  a  natural  Body^  it  is 
raifed  a  fpiritual  Body.  The  fame  Bodies  that  died 
/hall  be  raifed  again,  but  they  (hall  be  raifed  with  very 
great  Alterations,  It  is  fown  in  Corruption^  it  flail  be 
raifed  in  Incorruption.  Our  Bodies  here  in  this  World 
are  made  up  of  fuch  Particles,  and  they  are  framed  after 
fuch  a  Manner,  that  they  are  continually  tending  to 
Corruption  and  Diflblution  j  but  at  the  Appearance  of 
JESUS  CHRIST,  they  fiiall  be  freed  from  all  Seeds  of 
Mortality  and  Corruption,  and  he  made  incorruptible 
and  immortal  Subflances,  like  the  Heavens  in  which 
they  (hall  dwell  for  ever  ;  for  fo  our  Saviour  fays  of  thofe 
that  fliall  be  accounted  worthy  to  attain  to  this  blefied 
Returrection,  that  they  cannot  die  any  more.  It  is 
fewn  in  Diflonoury  it  is  raifed  in  Glory  ;  our  Bodies 
when  they  are  buried,  are  bafe  and  vile,  not  to  be  en- 
cured  above  Ground  for  their  ghaflly  Looks  and  naufe- 
ous  Putrefaction.  At  the  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST, 
they  ihall  be  transformed  into  bright,  beautiful  and 
glorious  Bodies  ;  for  fo  our  Saviour  allures  us,  that  after 
the  Refurrection,  the  Righteous  Jball  Jhine  as  the  Stars 
Firmament.  It  is  fown  in  Weaknefs^  it  flail  be' 
rciijed  in  Power  ;  our  Bodies  now  are  weak  and  feeble, 
liable  to  many  Indifpofitions  and  Difeafes,  capable  of 
doing  very  little,  but  of  foffering  much.  At  the  Re- 
furreclion  they  (hall  be  freed  from  all  Weaknefs,  Dif- 
eafes, and  Infirmities,  and  be  made  ftrong,  active  and 
vigorous,  fo  as  even  to  be  helpful  to  the  Soul  in  its  fpi- 
ritual Operations  ;  for  GOD  flail  wipe  away  all  Tears 
from  their  Eyes^  and  there  (nail  be  no  more  Death,  neither 
Sorrow )  nor  cry ing ,  neither  foall  there  be  any  more  Pain  \ 

C    2 


2  o    Appearance  of  Believers 

for  the  former  Things  are  poffed  away.  Rev.  21.4.  It 
is  f own  a  natural  Body>  it  is  raifed  afpiritual  Body  ;  our 
Bodies  now  muft  be  repaired  with  fuitableNourimment, 
kept  in  Health  with  Labour  and  Exercife,  and  refrefhed 
with  fenfual  Pleafures.  At  the  Appearance  of  JESUS 
CHRIST,  they  fhall  be  made  fpiritual  Bodies  :  not  that 
they  (hall  be  converted  into  Spirits,  for  they  will  ftijl 
remain  Bodies,  but  they  {hall  be  wrought  into  pure  and 
fine  Subftances,  fo  as  no  more  to  want  to  eat  or  drink, 
or  to  be  refrefhed,  or  kept  in  Order,  with  grofs  and 
carnal  Enjoyments  ;  for  as  pur  Saviour  fays,  Luke  20, 
35.  They  neither  marry  y  nor  are  given  in  Marriage^  but 
they  are  like  to  the  Angels  in  Heaven.  Such  (hall  be  the 
Glory  of  the  Bodies  of  good  Men  at  the  Appearance  of 
JESUS  CHRIST  :  And  if  their  Bodies  mall  be  To  glo- 
rious, what  will  be  their  Souls,  that  are  capable  of  far 
greater  Perfection  ?  For 

Secondly,  As   our  Bodies,,  fo   fhall  our  Souls  ?ppear 
with  JESUS  CHRIST  in  Glory.     Wherein  the  Glory  of 
_  our  Souls  will  then  confift,  and  how  great  it  will  be,  we 
cannot  particularly  delcribe  to  you.     Only  in   general, 
all  our  Sins  {hall  be  perfectly  done  away,   and  we  /hall 
be  cloathed  with  Robes  wafoed  and  made  luhite  in  the  Blood 
cf  the  Lamb.     When  the    Marriage    of  the    Lamb  Jhali 
come,    and  his  Wife  Jhall  be  ready ,  Jhe  Jhall  be  arrayed  in 
fine   Linnen,  clean  and  white,  ivhich    is  ihc  righieonfnefs 
cf  the  Saints.     Then  our   Souls  (hall   be  freed  from  all 
Error,  Ignorance  and   Prejudices,   and    endowed  with 
full  and  perfect  Knowledge.     Here  cur  Undcrftandings 
are  low  and  weak,   futed  to   this  State   of  Mortality  •„ 
but  at  the  Refurreition    they    fhall  be  highly  elevated^' 
and  made  capable  of  receiving  the  greateft  ManifeftatP^ 
ens  of  .Truth,  the   fublimeft  Difcoveries  of  the  divine 
Perfections,   and  of  every   Thing   that   may  any  way 
make   us   perfect,  or   happy.     Here  we  fee  through  a 
Glafs  darkly  ;  but  then  wefiall  fee  Face  to  Face.     Now 
we  have  fome  fmall  and  imperfect  Difcoveries  of  Things, 
as  at  a  great  Diftance  ;    but  at  that  Day  we  lhall  fee 
Things   diftinctly  in   their    full  and    true  Dimenfions. 
Now  luednov)  in_part  only  ;  but  then  W  jhall  know  GOD    • 

and 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     21 

other  Beings,  as  they  know  us.  No  Clouds,  na 
Darknefs  fhall  cover  our  Minds  in  that  glorious  State  : 
We  fhall  dwell  in  Circles  of  Light,  in  the  Sunfhine  of 
the  Almighty's  Prefence. 

And  as  our  Souls  {hall  be  perfect  in  Knowledge,  fo 
{hall  they  be  free  from  all  Corruption  and  Diforder,  and 
endowed  with  pure  and  regular  Defires  and  Inclinati- 
ons. Here,  there  are  Spots  and  Blemifhes  in  the  beft  of 
Men  ;  but  then  they  jball  be  holy  as  GOD  is  holy  ; 
they  {hall  have  all  the  Wifdom  and  San&ity  their  exalt- 
ed Natures  are  capable  of.  And  how  glorious  will  our 
Souls  then  appear,  when  they  (hall  be  filled  with  true 
and  excellent  Knowledge,  and  with  the  greateft  De- 
grees of  Holinefs  !  But  Eye  hath  not  feen^  nor  Ear 
heard  ;  neither  hath  it  entered  into  the  Heart  of  Max. 
to  conceive ,  the  Glory  which  GOD  hath  prepared  for  thofi 

that  love  him. 

h 

Thirdly,  Our  Souls  and  Bodies  thus  refined  and  ex- 
alted, {hall  be  again 'united  in  one  Perfon,  and  appear 
before  the  Judgment  Seat  of  CHRIST.  What  this 
Judgment  Seat  will  be,  and  where  it  will  be  placed,  we 
know  not  certainly.  Only  it  is  probable  it  will  be 
placed  in  the  Air,  and  compofed  of  a  radiant  Cloud, 
Jftreaming  with  Light  and  throwing  forth  a  Flood  of 
Glory.  Hence  it  is  called,  The  Throne  of  his  Glory  ; 
and  out  of  it  are  faid  to  proceed  Lightnings  and  Thun- 
der ings.  Before  this  glorious  Tribunal  fnall  appear  all 
the  Redeemed  of  the  LORD,  the  Prophets,  the  Apo- 
ftlc^  the  Martyrs,  the  whole  Church  throughout  all 
the  World,  and  they  fhall  all  give  an  Account  of  them- 
civeV.to  GOD.  Then  their  Innocence  lhall  be  vindi- 
cated, the  Scandal  that  v/,t;  thrown  upon  them  by  the 
World  frail  be  wiped  oft  before  Men  and  Angels,  their 
fecret  A&s  of  Piety  and  .Virtue  fhali  be  proclaimed, 
their  Faith,  and  Repentance  for  their  Sins  declared,  the 
divine  Goodnefs  and  Mercy  manifefted,  and  the  power- 
ful Virtue  of  the  Blood  of  Jfsus  CHRIST  in  the  Sanc- 
tification  of  Believers  made  evident  to  the  vail  Aflembly 
of  Spirits,  After  they  have  been  tried  and-  acquitted, 

the 


Appearance  of  Believers 

the  Judge  fhall  rife  out  of  his  flaming  Throne,  and  fay 
to  them  with  an  audible  Voice  and  failing  Majefty,  Come 
yeblejfed  of  my  Father^  inherit  the  Kingdom ,  prepared  for 
you  from  the  Foundation  of  the  World  j  To  which  no 
doubt  their  Voices  will  immediately  refound,  Hallelu- 
jah,  Salvation  and  Glory  to  him  that  fits  upon  the  Throne^ 
and  to  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever.  After  which  he  will 
fay  to  the  Wicked  on  his  left  Hand,  Depart  from  me 
ye  curfed  into  everlajling  Fire  prepared  for  the  Devil  and 
bis  Angels.  What  featful  Shrieks  and  Lamentations 
•will  then  be  heard  from  that  miferable  Company  ? 
LORD,  who  can  dwell  with  devouring  Fire  ?  Who 
can  inhabit  everlafting  Burnings  ? 

Fourthly,  When  the  Sentence  (hall  be  pronounced, 
the  Wicked  fhall  be  carried  to  the  Place  of  eternal 
Torments  ;  and  the  Judge  will  arife  from  his  Throne, 
and  afcend  t^  Heaven  in  Triumph  and  Glory,  attended 
with  all  his  Saints  and  Angels,  who  as  they  follow  him 
through  the  Air,  will  with  loud  Hofannas  and  trium- 
phant Acclamations,  celebrate  the  Praifes  of  their  Re- 
deemer ;  To  him  that  redeemed  them  and  wajhed  them  in 
his  Blood,  and  made  them  Kings  and  Priejls  to  GOD 
for  ever  and  ever.  Then  the  Ranfomed  of  the  LORD 
Jhall  return  to  Zion  with  Songs  and  everlafting  Joy  upon 
their  Heads »  They  ft/all  ftand  before  him,  and  ferve  him 
Day  and  Night  in  his  Temple ,  and  he  that  fits  upon  the 
Throne  /hall  dwell  among  them* 

As  to  the  particular  Time  when  JESUS  CHRIST  fhall 
thus  appear  in  Glory,  we  are  altogether  ignorant  of  it. 
This  is  one  of  thofe  Secrets,  which  GOD  for  v;\C* 
Reafons,  hath  referved  in  his  own  Power.  Of  that 
Day  and  Hour  knoweth  no  Man^  no  not  the  Angels  in 
Heaven,  neither  the  Son,  lut  the  Father ,  Matth.  13. 
32.  The  primitive  Chriftians  from  a  Miflake  of  fome 
raflages  in  Scripture,  and  an  impatient  Defire  to  be 
freed  from  their  grievous  Perfections,  thought  that  the 
Appearance  of  the  Son  of  Man  was  then  at  Hand.  And 
fome  in  the  laft  Century  were  fo  ram  as  to  fix  the  par- 
ticular Year  gf  his  Appearance.  But  the  Event  hath 

ftiewn 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory. 

fhewn  their  Folly.  How  could  they  pretend  to  foretell 
the  particular  Time  of  the  Appearance  of  JESUS 
CHRIST,  when  JESUS  CHRIST  himfelf  as  to  his  human 
Nature,  was  ignorant  of  it  ?  It  is  a  certain  Truth, 
that  JESUS  CHRIST  {hall  appear  in  Glory,  and  that  we 
fhall  appear  with  him  ;  and  this  is  fufficient.  Let  us 
fix  here,  my  Brethren^  and  be  afTured,  that  if  our 
Life  is  hid  with  CHRIST  in  GOD,  when  CHRIST  whs 
is  our  Life  (hall  appear ',  we  Jhall  alfo  appear  with  him  in 
Glory. 

And  now  let  us  apply  what  hath  been  faid  in  a  few 
Inferences.  We  might  take  Notice  of  a  great  many 
important  Leflbns  from  this  glorious  Subject,  but  we 
fhall  mention  only  the  Following. 

APPLICATION. 

Firflr,  Is  JESUS  CHRIST  our  Life?  What  Love  and 
Gratitude,  Truft  and  Confidence,  Subje&ion  and  Obe- 
dience do  we  owe  him  ?  Is  it  through  him  that  GOD 
is  reconciled  to  us,  and  treats  us  with  peculiar  Love 
and  Complacency  ?  Is  it  he  that  fan£tifies  and  makes 
us  Partakers  of  the  divine  Nature  ?  And  is  he  pre- 
paring Manfions  of  Blifs  for  us  in  Heaven  ?  Let  us 
warm  our  Hearts  with  Love  and  Gratitude  to  our  moft 
merciful  Redeemer,  who  loved  us  and  gave  himfelf  for 
us.  Let  us  call  upon  our  Souls  and  all  that  is  within  us 
us  to  praife  and  magnify  his  Name,  who  delivered  us 
from  Sin  and  Mifery,  and  who  makes  us  perfect  and 
happy,  who  caufes  us  to  pals  our  Lives  comfortably  in 
fti^World,  and  who  will  carry  us  to  unfpeakable 
Felicity  and  Glory  in  another.  We  love  and  are  grate- 
ful to  Men,  who  fave  us  from  temporal  Death,  and 
beftow  upon  us  the  Neceflaries  and  Comforts  of 
this  prefent  Life.  How  much  more  ought  we  to  love 
and  to  be  thankful  to  him,  who  faves  our  Souls  from 
eternal  Death,  and  freely  beftows  upon  us  all  fpiritual 
and  heavenly  Bleflings  ?  Let  us  likewife  truft  and  con- 
fide in  him  for  all  the  good  Things  we  ftand  in  need 
of ;  let  us  depend  upon  his  Merits  a.nd  Mediatipn  for 


24    Appearance  of  Believers 

the  Pardon  of  our  Sins;  let  us  pray  to  him  for 
his  Holy  Spirit  for  the  Sanclification  of  our  Natures, 
and  for  Affiflance,  Direction  and  Comfort,  in  all  Cir- 
cumfrances,  Temptations  and  Difficulties.  He  is  not 
only  able,  but  he  is  alfo  willing  to  fave  us.  His  Death 
for  us  is  a  Demonitration  of  this.  And  let  us  devote 
our  felves  and  all  our  Advantages  to  his  Glory,  and  to 
the  Caufe  and  Intereft  of  Religion  and  Virtue,  As 
we  live  by  the  Son  of  GOD,  let  us  live  for  him;  let 
us  in  Imitation  of  his  Example,  and  following  his 
Steps,  make  it  our  great  Buiinefs  and  Delight,  to  ma- 
fiifeft  the  Wifdom,  Goodnefs  and  Mercy  of  GOD,  ancj 
to  promote  the  Welfare  and  Happinefs  of  Men.  Let 
us  look  unto  JESUS,  the  Author  and  Finifher  of  our 
Faith,  and  follow  him  with  Ardor  and  Eagernefs  in  the 
Ways  of  Piety  and  Virtue. 

Secondly,  Is  JESUS  CHRIST  to  appear  at  the  End 
of  the  World,  and  to  call  all  Mankind    to  his  Judg- 
ment Seat  ?     What  manner  of  Perfons  ought  we  to  be  in 
all  holy  Conversation  and  Godlinefs,  waiting  for,    and. 
.  hajlening  to  the   coming   of  the   LORD,    when   he  foall 
defcend  from  Heaven  with  a  Shout,  with  the  Voice  of  the 
Arch-  Angel \  and  the  Trump  of  GOD    ?    Did  we  feri- 
oufly  believe  this  great  Principle  of  Religion,    what  a 
mighty   Influence  would  it  have  upon  us  ?     Like  the 
Apoftle,  we  would  labour ,   whether  abfent  or  prefent,  in 
all    Conditions,   in  all  Places,    and  at  all  Times  to  be 
accepted  of  him    -,    for  we   muft  all   appear  before   the 
judgment  Seat  0/*  CHRIST.     We  intreat  you,  my  Bre~ 
thren^  to  be   firmly    perfwaded  of  this   awful  Truth. 
Even  the  Light  of  Nature  teaches  us,  that  a  future  Sr^ 
of  Rewards  and  Punishments  is  highly  probable    ;    but 
Scripture  demonftrates  this  Point  ;  Life  and  Immortality 
are  clearly  brought  to    Light  by  the  Gvfpd.     He  hath  ap- 
pointed a  Day,    in  which,   he  will  judge  the    World   in 
Righteoufnefs  by  that  Man  whom  he  hath  ordained.   Our 
blefTed.  Saviour  hath  peremptorily   declared  this,  and  he 
hath  been  true   to  his  Word    hitherto,  whether  in    his 
Promifes,  or  in  his  Threatnings.     He  promifed  to  fend 
down  the  Holy  Ghoft  after  his  Afceftfion  j    and  that 

was 


with  CHRIST  in  Glory.     25 

was  fully  accomplished.  He  threatned  to  deftrcy  Jeru- 
J'alem,  and  he  did  fo.  He  hath  told  us,  that  be  will 
come  in  the  Cliuds  of  Heaven  in  flaming  Fire,  to  punijb 
the  Wicked  and  to  reward  the  Righteous.  How  fliould 
this  Thought  awaken  us,  that  there  is  fuch  a  Prc  mife 
on  Record,  by  one  who  never  failed  in  his  Word. 
Let  this  Confideration  always  fill  your  Minds.  Think 
continually,  you  hear  the  Sound  of  the  laft  Trumpet, 
Arife  ye  Dead,  and  come  to  Judgment.  Let  not  the 
Pleafures,  nor  the  Bufinefs  of  this  World  put  far  from 
you  this  important  Confideration.  Whether  you  think 
of  it  or  not,  this  Day  will  come.  And  if  it  fhould 
come  before  you  are  prepared  for  it,  your  Buiinefs, 
your  Pleafurcs,  your  Riches,  your  Honours  will  be  of 
no  Benefit  to  you.  Think  then  of  the  Day  of  the 
LORD,  and  think  of  it  in  fuch  a  Manner  as  to  prepare 
thy  felf  for  it.  Leave  all  thy  wicked  Thoughts  and 
Practices  ;  court  the  Favour  of  him  that  is  to  be  thy 
Judge,  fubmit  to  his  Scepter,  pay  a  willing  Obedience 
to  his  Laws.  Be  wife  therefore,  O  ye  Kings,  and  be 
znftrutted,  ye  Judges  of  the  Earth.  Serve  the  LORD 
with  Fear,  and  rejoice  with  Trembling.  Kifs  the  Son, 
leafl  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perijb  from  the  Way,  when  hit 
Wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little. 

Thirdly,  Shall  all  true  Chriftians  appear  with  JESUS 
CHRIST  in  Glory  ?  This  teaches  us  that  while  we  are 
here  in  this  World,  we  fhould  endeavour  to  be  like  to 
our  Saviour.  Thus  reafons  the  Apoftle,  I  John  3.  2. 
We  Jhall  be  like  him,  for  we  Jhall  fee  him  as  he  is  j 
and  every  Man  that  hath  this  Hope  in  him,  purifies 
bim/elfeyen  as  he  is  pure ;  that  is,  he  fets  the  Exam- 
^etS^Esus  CHRIST  before  him,  and  imitates  him  in 
all  his  imitable  Perfections.  NAs  it  was  by  a  patient 
Continuance  in  well  doing,  and  a  perfect  Submiffion  to 
the  divine  Will,  that  JESUS  CHRIST  merited  the 
Glory  in  which  he  will  appear  at  the 'Day  of  Judgment, 
fo  your  Bodies  muft  be  cleanfed,  and  your  Souls  purifi- 
ed from  all  fenfual,  worldly,  vain  and  wicked  Inclina- 
tions, and  you  muft  be  holy  as  GOD  is  holy,  if  you 
would  partake  of  his  Happmefs  and  {hare  of  his  Glory. 
D  There 


a  6     Appearance  of  Believers 

There  is  no  Agreement  between  Light  and  Darknefs, 
no  Concord  "^between  GOD  and  Belial,  no  Fellowftiip 
between  JESUS  CHRIST  and  Sinners.  'Tis  true,  after 
all  your  Endeavours  to  become  holy  here  upon  Earth, 
you  (hall  ftill  be  far  fhort  of  that  Holinefs  which  be- 
comes the  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST.  But  you 
muft  ufe  your  beil  Endeavours,  and  prefs  towards  the 
Mark  for  the  Prize  of  the  high  Calling  of  GOD  in 
JESUS  CHRIST.  Without  Holinefs,  no  Man  (hall  fee 
the  LORD.  Not  that  wicked  Men  fhall  not  like- 
wife  appear  at  the  Day  of  Judgment,  and  do  Homage 
to  the  Son  of  GOD.  But  they  (hall  not  appear  in 
Glory  :  They  fhall  appear  cloathed  in  Shame  and 
Confufion,  in  dreadful  Expectation  of  the  terrible  Sen- 
tence to  be  pronounced  upon  them.  So  that  you 
rnuft  either  give  over  ail  Thoughts  of  appearing  with 
JESUS  CHRIST  in  Glory,  or  you  muft  prepare  your- 
felves  for  that  Appearance  by  Faith  and  Love,  by  Puri- 
ty and  Holinefs.  Chriftlan,  thy  Life  is  in  Heaven  ; 
there  is  thy  Happinefsand  thyGlory.  Do  not  debafe  thy 
felf  by  purfuing  the  mean  and  bafe  Enjoyments  of  this 
World,  and  which  are  but  Shadows  of  Felicity,  whilft 
thou  negle&eft  the  Body  and  the  Subftance,  JESUS 
CHRIST.  Imitate  the  Children  of  the  World,  in  their 
Ambition.  Thofe  among  them  that  are  nobly  bprn, 
and  much  more  thofe  that  are  Heirs  to  a  Crown  and 
Kingdom,  will  not  engage  in  any  low  Employment, 
nor  defcend  to  a  mean  A&ion.  As  for  thee,  thou 
art  of  heavenly  Extraction,  a  Brother  to  Angels,  an 
Heir  to  an  immortal  Diadem  and  never  failing  Kingdom. 
Keep  in  Mind  thine  Honour  and  Dignity.  Difdain  to 
mix  with  the  Slaves  of  this  Earth  ;  fcorn  to-4L 
their  mean  and  grofs  Delights  ;  raife  thy  Thov-Ms  to 
Heaven  ;  meditate  on  *the  Glory  in  y.hich  thou  ihalt 
appear  at  the  great  Day,  do  nothing  unworthy  the  Son 
of  a  King,  of  the  King  of  Heaven. 

Fourthly,  Is  JESUS  CHRIST  to  appear  to  take  Ven- 
geance oa  all  them  that  know  not  GOD,  nor  obey 
Xhe  Gofpelof  his  Son  ?  This  is  Matter  of  great  Ter- 
ror to  the  wicked  W^rld.  .  Now  you  put  far  away  tDe 

Thoughts 


I 

with  CHRIST  in  Glory,    27 

Thoughts  of  the  Appearance  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  you 
infolently  break  his  Laws,  you  abufe  his  Favours,  you 
trample  under  Foot  the  Son  of  GOD,  you  declare 
by  your  wicked  Lives,  that  you  will  not  have  him 
to  reign  over  you  ;  you  fay,  that  the  LORD  delay  eih 
hi*  coming^  you  beat  your  fellow  Servant.  But  "pro- 
fane arid  wicked  Man,  the  LORD  is  not  flack  concern- 
ing his  Promife.  There  is  a  Day  coming,  and  perhaps 
is  near  at  Hand,  when  thou  {halt  pay  dear  For  thy 
Folly  and  Madnefs  ;  when  he  whom  thou  now 
reje&eft  and  defpifeft,  and  whofe  Laws  thou  clfteft 
behind  thy  back,  {hall  appear  in  the  Glory  of  his  Father  y 
with  all  his  holy  Angels,  and  punifli  thee  according  to 
thy  Deferts.  What  Horror  and  Amazement  will  feize 
thee,  when  raifed  out  of  the  Grave,  thou  {halt  behold 
the  Son  of  GOD  w'hom  thou  haft  made  thine  Ene- 
my, coming  in  Power  and  Majefty  ?  How  wilt  thou 
fhrink  back  from  the  Light,  and  wifh  to  hide  thy  felf 
again  in  the  Grave.  Yonder  comes  He  whofe  Laws 
I  have  broken,  whofe  Love  I  have  defpifed,  whofe 
Name  I  have  blafphemed  ;  he  comes  in  terrible  Wrath  ; 
wretched  and  forlorn,  how  {hall  I  abide  his  Appearance, 
or  whither  {hall  I  flee  from  his  Prefence  f  Mountains, 
Mountains,  fall  upon  me,  Hills  cover  me  from  his  Sighf, 
But  the  Hills  and  Mountains  will  me!:  away,  and 
nothing  {hall  be  left  but  thv  felf  for  his  fiery  Indigna- 
tion. Thou  {halt  be  dragged  to  his  Judgment  Seat. 
How  wilt  thou  endure  the  Face  of  thy  J  udge  ?  Where 
wilt  thou  hide  thy  felf  from  the  Lightning  of  his 
Eyes  ?  mell  with  all  its  Torments  is  not  to  be  com- 
pared toAhe  Look  of  an  angrv  GOD.  He  th-.it  made 
^^  have  no  Mercy  upon  thee^  and  he  that  for- 
faw  thee  no  Favour, 


Laftly,  Shall  we  appear  with  jEsusCn  R  IST  inGlory? 
This  is  Matter  of  greatComfort  and  Jo  y  to  <he'rr»>d  Man 
under  all  the  Afflictions  of  this  Life.  FaithSjlC  Indian, 
thou  art  while  in  this  World,  liable  fo  grear  Affections 
and  Calamities  ;  thou  art  fubjecl:  to  Pain  an  .!  Sickuefs, 
to  Poverty  and  Want,  to  Shame  and  Difs>tace3  to 
Croflcs  and  Difoppointments,  to  Perfecution  and  Dt-atb  ; 

thy 


X        *ance  of  .Relievers 

!hjG.  c-c  are  weak,  thy  Temptations  many  and  ftrong^ 
t>  out  of  Sight,  beyond  the  higheft  Heavens., 
f  good  Courage  ;  *yet  a  little  while  and  all 
Jc  Things  fhall  come  to  an  End,  and  hr  that  [hall 
;  v?f,  ft1///  ow,?t',  tf;j^  w.'//  720/  tarry*  Yet  a.  little 
v/hile  and  thy  Uody  (hall  become  like  unto  the  glori- 
ous Body  of  the  Son  of. GOD,  and  thy  Soul  fhail  be 
•\afedto  the  higheft  Degree  of  Perfection  and  Happi- 
a  iiitie  while  and  thou  fha^i  be  purified  from 
all  £in  andCorruption,  and  confequcntly  from  all  Mifery, 
andWaken  up  mto  the  Air  to  meet  thy  Saviour.  Thefc 
light  Afflictions  fhall  work  for  theea  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  Weight  of  Glory.  Thy  Saviour  fufFered 
much  greater  Afflictions  than  any  thou  art  liable  to,  Sin 
only  cxceptevj.  But  the  Glory  he  had  before  i-Iiu, 
made  him  patiently  endure  the  Crofs,  and  defpife  thj 
Shame.  And  jiow  he  is  fet  down  at  the  right  Hand  of 
GOD.  ,-Bs  thou  likewife  ftedfaft,  and  thou  fn:;k 
obtain  the  Crown  6f  Life.  Lift  up  thy  Head  witr\ 
Joy  and  Rejoicing,  for  thy  Redemption  draweth  nigh. 
Thy*  Deliverance  may  come  fooner  than  thou  thinkeft 
of.  The  End  of  all  Things,  may  be,  is  at  Hand. 
Perhaps  the  Order  is  already  given  in  Heaven  for  th'j 
general  Judgment  of  the  World  ;  perhaps  the  /• 
arc  alreaoy  fummoned  to  attend  the  Son  of  GOD  ; 
perhaps  he  is  juft  about  to  appear  in  Glory  ;  perhaps 
the  Sound  of  the  laft  Trumpet  will  this  Moment  fill 
our  Ears.  Comc9  even  fu  cwie,  LORD  JESU?. 

Now   t9  t-'im  that  Jilictb  upon  the  Throne,    and  it  tie 

La  ml)  that  was  Jlain^  c.,-td  hath  redeemed  us  fron>\  our fS  ins 

is  Blocd,  end  will  give  us  io  zpp*ar  ibhh  him\ 

jj-y-  tht  Pmiinion  and  Power  jar 
and  ef*i,t\     A^'l&L^., 

P  I  N  I  S. 


ERRATA. 

J  2.  line  i .  for  Indeeft  read  Indeed.     P.  13. 1.7 
ties  reutl  Y acuities.     Pj  18.  1.  laft  read  thejoy, 
J,  read-  re- unite  themfdves  to  Bodies. 


